Company: SistaPAC Productions
 
Co-Founders: Ella Turenne, Jessica Hartley, Maureen Aladin
 
Crème Magazine: Give us a brief description of the main characters?

Photo:Lowe ImagingKarmella Scott (Ella Turenne) - the oldest of the Kindred cousins. Known simply as Karma, she freelances as a photographer for different advertising and marketing agencies in New York. Spiritually, artistically and technically inclined, she is the one who is always thinking and speaking outside the box. A full-figured sista, she has always had a hard time opening up and expressing her natural beauty and sexuality. She is skeptical of men and rarely lets anyone get close to her, but all of that will soon change.

Photo:Lowe ImagingCollette Robbins (Jessica Hartley) - the middle of the three cousins, is the Chief of Staff for a local Brooklyn politician. Intelligent, witty, and sarcastic, she has excessively high standards for everything and lives to be in control. Life for Collette has always gone according to plan, never deviating from the course she has set for herself. Colette's train is about to run off the tracks, altering her life forever.

Photo:Lowe ImagingAngelina Chambers (Maureen Aladin) - the youngest of the cousins, is an associate marketing director at one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the country. A diva extraordinaire and cold-blooded when it comes to getting what she wants, Angelina has learned to devote herself to being the best at whatever she puts her mind to. She will have to hit rock bottom to uncover her true self, and her mother's approval will be the least of her worries.

CM: How did this web series come about?

SistaPAC: A photograph was actually the motivation for developing the concept of the show.  One of the photographs taken of the SistaPAC team during a photo shoot by Larry Lowe, of Lowe Imaging became the inspiration for the story and characters that became Kindred.
 
A pilot and the first few episodes were written. While the pilot landed in the hands of an executive at a major network in LA, we received the typical message of: “Great writing, but not right for our network at this time.” Not to be derailed from their dreams, we decided to modify the format of Kindred and launch this sexy, dramatic and engrossing series for the web.  Kindred is SistaPAC Production’s most ambitious project to-date.

The series provides a no-holds-barred look at issues that all women face, and reveals how three everyday women tackle love, life, and work, while dealing with daunting, life-changing issues such as sexual harassment, infidelity, drug abuse, deadly diseases, racism, and queer issues.  The characters Karmella Scott, Collette Robbins and Angelina Chambers, are three twenty-something African-American women who are first cousins which navigate family, work and love against the gritty skyline of New York City.

Photo:Emmely Pierre Louis

 
CM: What's the main mission for the web series?

SistaPAC: The mission of Kindred, at its heart, is to portray women of color more realistically and with more dimensions.
 
CM: What are some ways that you’re bringing awareness or promoting the web series?

SistaPAC: We are building a robust online presence through our Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and Ning social network. In addition, we’ve built a coalition of urban bloggers, entertainment and online media properties that are assisting with the cross-promotion of the series.  Finally, the ongoing buzz from the launch of the series has generated several online and print articles, and reviews in various entertainment and people-of-color based mediums.  We are fortunate that the web series market is growing by leaps and bounds on a daily basis.

CM: How many webisodes will be featured on the website?

SistaPAC: Currently, there are three (3) webisodes slated to rollout over a 6-week period, along with exclusive behind the scenes “The Making of Kindred” footage.  The home of the series is www.KindredSeries.com, where fans can find the official trailer, photos, videos, character biographies, behind-the-scenes footage, and connections to social networks.
 
CM: Are there any future plans on this series being on TV?

SistaPAC: Absolutely!  The goal of making a web version of Kindred was to build a fan base and also gain press attention.  Our vision is that this venture will lead to a television production and distribution deal for the series, in addition to other production opportunities.